MINNEAPOLIS  Check the standings. Yep, the Timberwolves are still buried, some 15 games under the .500 mark despite their recent surge.

Then watch the bench, the next time -- or more accurately, if -- you have the TV on during a broadcast or happen to make the trip to Target Center.

There is Kevin McHale shouting encouragement, sounding like your coach in ninth grade instead of doing his usual Herman Munster lookalike with that exasperated grimace flashing a few rows up from the court.

This could be the secret to bringing the Wolves out of their post-Garnett abyss. Hey, don't roll those eyes; all that means is consistent competitiveness and flirtation with .500, not (for now) actually making the playoffs or more.

When he became coach following the December firing of Randy Wittman, the move was widely viewed as the first step toward the exit from this franchise McHale helped bring to relevance and briefly to the cusp of the NBA's elite before prompting deterioration with a series of shortsighted signings, misjudged draft picks, and questionable trades.

McHale made it clear he's not interested in the job's demands of travel and media, despite his passion for teaching players on the court and guiding them during games.

But after imploring the fellas to enhance their effort, stop feeling sorry for themselves and essentially forget all of what Wittman told them, McHale survived eight straight losses and eventually started to settle in to his new role.

He preached the power of positivity to facilitate a five-game winning streak that ended Tuesday with a narrow defeat against Miami.

"When he said that, we knew everything was going to be tough and have some good tough practices," guard Randy Foye said. "But, hey, it paid off."

For once, there is hope on the floor in the form of Foye's progress in the fourth quarter and Al Jefferson's continued dominance underneath.

Wittman was a decent dude, but his abysmal career record speaks to his inability to connect with or motivate the players. Even when he was the top assistant to Flip Saunders, his whining and constant criticism -- Wally Szczerbiak was a frequent target -- provided part of the soundtrack to watching the Wolves courtside in the late 1990s and into the current decade. McHale? He yells a lot less, offering JV-like encouragement ("Let's box out, guys!") and showing a genuine desire to see the players succeed on a personal level in spite of his vested desire to watch the roster he assembled thrive.

"I just think people were beaten up a little bit, beaten down, and just was tired of the situation," Foye said. "When he came and took over, we knew things were going to change. We didn't know how fast. We thought it would probably take longer."

His stint then was only 31 games and Garnett was still roaming around the post, but McHale helped fuel 19 victories with the same style the last time he took over. It's not clear how long this experiment will last, or whether he'll endure another ugly slump over the second half of this season. McHale, however, is pushing the proper buttons with this bunch and making up for any lack of strategic touch he has for the position.

"For me, seeing them smile, seeing them high-fiving and belly-bumping, that's why you play," he said. "If you were a kid and you were 13 and you played the way we make them play in the NBA sometimes, every kid would play soccer. They'd go, 'I'm not doing this."'

He continued: "If you play a perfect game, we can all retire together. It'll be the first time I've ever seen anybody play an NBA game without making a mistake. Mistakes are inherent in the game. You can't lament them. You can't play the play over. It's got to be, 'Next play, next play, next play."'

McHale acknowledged he wishes he were still watching from his perch, not wracking his brain trying to come up with what play to call next and stay on top of the substitution patterns and figure out when to use his timeouts.

He seems more introspective and humble now, perhaps worn down from the years of public flogging and failed decisions. He's been talking a lot about faith, and how it gets a workout during trying times. Nearly 16 years removed from his last game as a player, McHale might finally have found his post-participation calling.

___

Dave Campbell can be reached at dcampbell(at)ap.org

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